As much as we might love the Watsons, the side characters and the clever mysteries, let’s face it, we’re really here for Benedict Cumberbatch’s generation-defining portrayal of the Great Detective. Such artificial conflict isn’t Sherlock‘s usual style and we certainly hope that there’s a bigger, cleverer plan at work here.Īny grievances that might be had from the episode are forgotten, however, when we get to spend time with Sherlock himself. Likewise, his immediate dismissal of Sherlock after his wife’s death seems blinkered and unfair. However, the scenes which see him continually emotionally cheat on his wife with a stranger come across as strangely out of character for the famously loyal doctor. Again, Martin Freeman is never less than excellent in the show (his finest moment in this episode comes in John’s guttural cry as he holds his dead wife in his arms). The problem is that, while other shows can get away with largely devoting an episode to just one person, Sherlock offers up so few that each one has to cover the whole board.Īnother element that will prove controversial is the characterization of Watson here. She nails both the hardnosed ex-secret agent and the quip-happy wife side of Mary and manages to bring them together into one believable, likeable character. To be clear, any misgivings we have about spending so much time with Mary is not down to Amanda Abbington’s performance. Though that was avoided last season, that’s exactly what happens here, as her past life as an assassin forms the bulk of the plot. The character’s introduction back in season 3 worried fans who thought she’d take the spotlight away from Sherlock and John. While it made narrative sense, considering her imminent demise, there was perhaps too much of an emphasis on Mary this week. Yes, Mary Watson is no more and her death presumably sets the tone for a much edgier season where all the bets are off.Īs episodes where a main character dies often are, this will definitely go down as a controversial outing for the show and one that, while frequently exciting, has its flaws. With her life, in fact, as happens in the episode’s heartbreaking denouement. The answer shockingly revolves around Mary’s past – a past that she’s finally paying for. Not so here, though.Ī mysterious death leads Sherlock into investigating a string of breakages of statuettes depicting late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. If this was an episode of the more comedic third season, this probably would have been the plot of the whole thing. Cue lots of fun moments as the Watsons have to juggle raising a newborn and going off on adventures with Sherlock.

Due to Moriarty’s apparent return, Sherlock is let off his murder charge and endeavors to solve the case of his nemesis’ reappearance by simply doing his usual thing – cracking mysteries and being rude to people. Meanwhile, Mary finally has her baby – named Rosamund Mary.

Things start off light enough when we get a quick tidying-up of the leftovers from season 3. In the reams of pre-publicity surrounding the long-awaited fourth outing of Sherlock, the cast and crew routinely spoke about this being the darkest, most dramatic run of the show yet, and this episode proves they weren’t kidding.

A fitting overall theme it was too, as the show will be dealing with the aftermath of this instalment’s shocking ending for seemingly the rest of the season.

This review is based off the season premiere and will contain spoilers.Ĭonsequence was the name of the game this episode.

Season 4 review sherlock nyt